QUICKSLANTS: Boise State at Louisiana Tech
Getting the passing attack untracked in last week's win over New Mexico State also meant career marks or firsts for several Tech receivers:
-- WR Brian Jackson scored his first touchdown of the season and second of his career.
-- WR Phillip Livas scored his first career touchdown and career long catch with a 30-yard scoring reception.
-- TE Dustin Mitchell tied career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (24).
-- RB Patrick Jackson set career marks in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (78).
-- TE Anthony Harrison set career marks in long reception (24 yards) and receiving yards (42).
BROWN DOES IT LATELY
Tech defensive back Weldon Brown set a career mark with 13 tackles against New Mexico State.
Brown added two pass break ups against the Aggies and leads the Western Athletic Conference with 10 pass break ups (four interceptions, six passes defended).
Brown also ranks fourth in the WAC with 25.88 yards per kick return.
THIRD AND DONE?
The Bulldogs have found the going to be tough on third down and have been succesfful on only 25-of-96 (26 percent) of third-down attempts this season.
Tech's opponents have made good on 41 percent (39-of-96) of their third-down attempts.
GAMBLING MAN
Tech coach Derek Dooley has been a fourth-down gambler, with the Bulldogs converting on 5-of-13 (38 percent) of their attempts through six games.
Last season Tech converted on 3-of-15 fourth-down trys (20 percent) in a 13-game season.
ENEMY LINES: BOISE STATE
RENEWED RIVALRY
Boise State leads the all-time series against Louisiana Tech by one game at 5-4.
Tech won the first four meetings, including the first game the teams played as members of the Western Athletic Conference in 2001.
But Boise State has reeled off five straight wins over the Bulldogs, including a 55-14 decision last year in Idaho.
POUNDING IT OUT
Boise State will look to the run first and ranks 14th nationally with 216.8 rushing ayrds per contest.
Junior running back Ian Johnson spearheads the Broncos' running game after setting a school record last season with 1,713 rushing yards.
The bruising ball carrier has played a big role for the Broncos in their last two wins, totaling 158 yards of offense and a score in a 58-0 win over New Mexico State and 205 rushing yards and two scores in last week's 69-67 quadruple overtime win over Nevada.
MAKING A POINT
Boise State has proven to be one of the nation's top-scoring offenses so far this season while also ranking as one of the top defenses in the country.
The Broncos rank eight nationally in scoring with 42.5 points per game and lead the WAC in scoring defense, giving up 21.3 points per game.
Boise State's quadruple-OT win over Nevada was the highest-scoring game in FBS (formally Division I-A) history. Both teams scored 44 points in regulation and four of the first five plays in overtime were 25-yard touchdowns.
TOUGH ON BOTH SIDES
The Broncos are tough to score on, but that's to be expected as they're tough to do anything on offensively.
Boise State is ranked No. 15 nationally, allowing 299.2 yards per game.
And last week's marathon win over Nevada didn't help those numbers. Before the quadruple-overtime scorefest Boise State was ranked No. 3 in the nation. Nevada totalled 639 yards of offense in the loss to the Broncos.
QUICK STARTS
Boise State has outscored opponents 77-21 in the first quarter of games this season and 157-55 in the first half.
WAC SNACKS
MIGHTY QUIN RECOGNIZED
Louisiana Tech linebacker Quin Harris is the Defensive Player of the Week in the Western Athletic Conference.
Harris, a junior from Visalia, Calif., had a season-high 12 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of 10 yards, in Tech's 22-21 win over New Mexico State last week.
Boise State hit a WAC Daily Double with running back Ian Johnson taking in offensive honors and place kick Kyle Botzman being named the leagues Special Teams Player of the Week.
HAWAII? FINE, THANKS
The 7-0 Warriors are one of six teams in the nation without a loss and their eight-game winning streak is tied for the longest in the country with Boston College and South Florida.
UTAH TO THE TOP
Utah State senior WR Kevin Robinson is the nation's top player in all-purpose yards with 212.5 per game. He has 680 on kick returns, 213 on punt returns, 359 receiving and 23 rushing in six games. Fresno State's A.J. Jefferson is the nation's top kick returner with a 33.3-yard average on nine returns.
WAC AT NO. 4
The WAC's nine coaches have averaged 71 wins per coach, the fourth best average of all FBS conferences' coaches. The coaches have won 60.0 percent of their games in their careers, the sixth-best winning percentage.
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